Extension-table.



W. L. PFEFFERKORN, A. P. SCHLOERB & A. H. HAMMETTER.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1912.

Patented. Feb. 8, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

45 pedestalmembefs 9 and1'0. These parts, as

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1 WILLIAM L. PrnrrnaKonmnLBnar r. scnronnr, AND answer n. HAMMEITER,

. r r or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

' To all whom may concern 7 extension table toprigidly together in any desired position of adjustment. Also to provide means whereby the binding mechanism maybe utilized to properly space the sev v eralparts of the table so that both ends will open outwardly to the same extent from a common center. Also to" provide means whereby the binding mechanism may be utilized to limit the outward movement of the permanent members substantially to the desired degree of i extension, whereby when the desired number of removable top boards have beeninserted, a comparatively short movement of" an operating lever will be sufficient to bring the parts into binding relation with each other. c,

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of an extension table embodying our invention showing the table in extended position with the removable top, boards omitted. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe same. in longitudinal section, drawn on line 00-00 of Fig. 1. Fig.

' 3 is a detail View of the binding chain.

,Like partsare identified by the same reference characters throughout the several v1ews."'- Inthe construction illustrated, fixed top boards 1 and 2 are connected withthe, end slides 3"and 4 of -a series of slides 3, 4:, 5 and 6, in the usual manner, the slides. and topboards being: supported bybridging boards 7 and carried by suitable legs or well as the removable top boards, may be of any ordinary construction.

The bridging board 8 in our improved table is provided with a bracket 12 to which "a chain 13 is secured at 14:, intermediate of its endsbut nearer one endthan theother. A helically coiled spring 15 is secured to the under side ofthe "top board 2 and is provided with a hook 16 adapted to be en- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed Ma a s, 1912. Serial no. 682,508.

Patented net. s, ieie.

gaged by the chain The top board l is provided with an elbowed lever 19 pivoted to the under side of the top board at 20, and

having a short arm connected with a link 21, having a hooked extremity at 22. A. guide at 28 supports the link in substantially a horizontal position. .The longer end portion of the chain 13 is adapted to be connected with the hook, 22.

-Vi hen the chain 13 is connected at any points along its length with the hooks 16 and 22, the lever 19 being in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the chain being extended as shown in Figs'l and 2, it is obvious that by swinging the lever in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. l,

the top boards and 2 will be drawn toward each other, since the hook 212 will be drawn inwardly toward the fixed top board 1. If therefore, the space between the top boards land 2 be substantiallyfilled with removable top boards prior to the operation of lever 19, the described movementof the lever will bind or clamp such movable top boards between the'fixed top boards, and since the chain 13 is connected with the bridging board 8, this will also be drawn in the rection of the bridging board? as far as it is permitted to go by the removable top.

boards, the fixed topboards remaining in the same relative position with reference to the pedestal members. It will be observed, however, that the chain is provided with a series of spaced links a, (5 6,1), and '0, c; on the respectivesides of the point of connection 1a with the bracket 12. Spaced links (Z and e are also provided for the longer end portionof the chain 13 The "spaces between the links 0 and (Z, and (Z and e, are

I twice the length of the spaces between the links (rand Z), and b and 0. All of these links are preferably characteristlcallv"dlf? ferent either in size, form or appearance from the otherlinks of the chain 13, and are adapted to engage the hooks 16 and respectively. t

The links a, b and c are separated from each other a distance equal to'substantially one-half the width of the top board, but as one of these links is' located ateach side of the bracket connection 1 1, it is obvious that each pair of these links represents a separation of the fixed top boards of sufficient dimensions to receive a removable top board, the separation of the fixed top boards belng i a may be engaged with the hooks 16 and 22 1 equal on opposite sides of the center "of the table between the pedestals. For example, assuming the bridging boards 7 and 8 to be in substantial contact with each other and the fixed top boards 1 and 2 also in substantial contact, if the latter be separated sufliciently to permit the hand of the operator to be inserted between them, the links respectively, whereupon a further separation of the top boards 1 and 2' wlthout separating the bridging boards will neces-- sarily involve an equal outward movement of the top boards. A .smgleremovable top board may then be mserted and the parts of'the table bound together by actuating the lever 19 as above explained. Where two'top boards are desired, the operation will be the same, except that the links 12,1), will be engaged with the hooks 16 and 22, while, if three removable top boards are. desired, the links 0, 0, will be engaged with said hooks. Both ofthe fixed top boards will. then be extended substantially to the, limit permitted by the end slides 3 and 4 without separation of the bridging boards, the latter being permitted to remain locked together byca hook 25 pivoted to bridging board 8 and engaging a catch 26 on bridging board 7.

Assuming that it is desired to still farther extend the table for the reception of more than three removable top boards, the hook 25 will be released from catch 26 to permit the bridging boards to separate. In this movement of extension, it is not necessary that one end be moved to the same extent as the other end. The chain 13 may therefore be left connected with the hook 16 by means of link 0, and the other end of the the table in this manner is onlylimitedby toisuit the size of the table.

the capacity of the slides and the number of spaced hook engaging links employed in the chain. 18, which may be madeof any length When the table is contracted, the free end Tor ends of the chain may be permitted to hang. We therefore preferably provide one 7 or both bridging boards with a notch '30,

whereby the, chain may hang between the bridging boards without interfering with their approach into contact with each other. employing l nks to engage the hooks 16 and 22 which differ from the otherlinks of the chain in appearance, size or form, the

user is enabled to adjust the chain without Qdlll'lCultY for any desired extension. The

links are preferably engaged with the hooks together under resilient pressure. v

bridging immediately after slightly separating the top boards in order. that the table may then be extended carelessly until the separating movement is limitedby the chain, said chain thus determining the degree of extension. It'will of course be understood that the space between the links a, a, is of a little greater length than the width of a removable top board, so that theseparation may be sufiicient to allow the top board to be inserted withoutdiflicultyftheshort arm of the lever 19 being of sufiicient length to draw the parts together after the top boardfis in position and to apply a resilient pressure thereto, the spring 15 being employed to allow the connection made by the chain to yield slightly and. compensate for irregularities either in the spacing of thellinksor inthe width of the top boards, Ito is desirable that the lever 19 be swungthrough an arc of ninety degrees in order that thelink 21 may draw across the line of centers through the pivot pin'20 and the point of connection between the link and saidlever, When the lever is so swung, it automatically locks position with the parts of the table bound It will be observed that the board 7 is provided with a hook 33 adjustably'secured thereto by a bolt-34:, which passes through a slot 35 in a plate 36, which carries this hook. The spaced chain links may be engaged 'withthis hook either in addition to the connection with the top board catch, orwithout making the latter connection. When thefchain is engaged with the hook 33, it definitely spaces and limits the separation of the supports represented by the legs, pedestals or bridging boards 7 and-8, and so farasthis feature of our invention is concerned, it is not material whether the permanent top boards are movable independently oflthe supportsor not,

or whether they are "spaced by the same means or not. y ,We cla1m I [1. An extension table, comprising the combination of a supporting'bridging board,

slides, fixed andremovable top,boards,of a

chain connected at one side of its middle portion with .thebridging board ',and .pro vided with suitably spaced catch engaging I 7 links of different character gfrom jthe other links of the chain, catch'sfon the fixed top boards adapted to engage said links, an'd a lever .for adjusting one .ofthe, catches to tighten saidchain. 7 r

2. An extension table comprising the combination with-a support,- slides, and per-ma: nent top boards, :of a flexible connecting member secured to one of-the top boards and 7 provided with means at spaced 1 intervals along its length, .for detachably-engaging the other top board a 3. Anextension table comprising the com bination With a support, slides and permanent top boards, of a flexible connecting member secured to one of the top boards and provided With means at spaced intervals along its length, for detachably engaging the other top board, said flexible connecting member being also secured at one point to the support.

4. An extension table comprising the combination With separable supports, slides, permanent and removable top boards, of a flexible connection secured to one of the supports and provided With means for detachably engaging the other support, at spaced intervals VILLIAM L. PFEFFERKORN. ALBERT P. SOHLOERB. AUGUST H. HAMMETTER.

lVitnesses LEVERETT C. WHEELER, IRMA D. BREMERZ Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

